Avalanche sign Wyatt Aamodt to two-year contract

On Friday, following the chaos that was the NHL Trade Deadline, the Colorado Avalanche signed defenseman Wyatt Aamodt to two-year, two-way contract extension.

The deal, set to kick in next season, will have an NHL AAV of $775,000, with $275,000 guaranteed each season.

Aamodt is currently on a one-year deal, with an NHL cap hit of $775,000 and a minor-league salary of $130,000

Aamodt, an undrafted blueliner, has been with the Avalanche organization since signing with the team in 2022 after an exceptional career at Minnesota State. He has never played an NHL game, spending his entire pro career thus far with Colorado’s American Hockey League affiliate, the Colorado Eagles.

After joining the team for the end of the 2021-22 campaign, the Hermantown, Minnesota native has been a mainstay on the Eagles’ blue line. He posted a career-high 18 points in 52 games during his rookie season in 2022-23, scoring six goals and 14 points the following year. This season, Aamodt has registered three goals and 10 assists for 13 points in 51 games with a career-high plus/minus of +32, which leads all AHL skaters.

In 166 career AHL appearances, Aamodt has potted 12 goals and 33 assists for 45 points, including an assist in 18 Calder Cup Playoff games.

Prior to turning pro, Aamodt was a standout defender in the NCAA ranks. With the Mavericks, he was on four regular-season championship teams across the WCHA and CCHA, as the team won two conference tournaments. As captain of the team in 2021-22, Minnesota State made it all the way to the national championship game, losing to the Denver Pioneers.

According to CapWages, the Avalanche has 25 of a possible 50 players signed to NHL contracts next season.

The Avalanche (37-24-2) is fourth in the Central Division, holding the first Wild Card spot in the Western Conference. The Eagles (30-14-8) are second in the AHL’s Pacific Division.